6.30.2008

Just sitting here, getting some work done, but really waiting for the thunderstorm to start. I love that about summer... the random storms... but I hate a tease, so hopefully the storm these dark clouds are promising will really materialize.

This weekend was nice. I walked 5 miles each day with Ro, did laundry, Trav did dishes, spent a leisurely 1.5 hours in the grocery store with Trav in one of those electric carts (hilarious, I honestly couldn't stop laughing), popped by Willy's to pick up two things we forgot, did work for that scholar, read some, and watched some TV/movies. It was nice. Yay for a short week before I can do it all over again.

One of the movies we watched was recommended by my dad, a movie called "Once", which you might recognize from it winning the last Oscar for best song (the gorgeous, "Falling Slowly"). In it, an (unnamed) Guy is a Dublin guitarist/singer-songwriter who makes a living by fixing vacuum cleaners in his Dad's Hoover repair shop and singing/playing for money on the Dublin streets. An (unnamed) Girl is a Czech who plays piano when she gets a chance, and does odd jobs by day and takes care of her mom and her daughter by night. Guy meets Girl, and they get to know each other as the Girl helps the Guy to put together a demo disc that he can take to London in hope of landing a music contract. During the same several day period, the Guy and the Girl work through their past loves, and reveal their budding love for one another, through their songs. It was really sweet and touching, the music is beautiful, and I love that its realistic while still being romantic. While it isn't one that I would watch again and again, I would recommend seeing it once (no pun intended!).

Speaking of movies... there are a ton of movies coming up that I really want to see: X-files, Harry Potter (this we will definitely see, probably night one or two!), Momma Mia!, and Journey to the Center of the Earth (would be really neat to see in 3-D, looks visually stunning)... just to name the few I can remember off the top of my head. Normally Trav and I don't hit the theatures much, too expensive... but it looks like I might have to convince him otherwise for the next few months!

Oh! In nice news, things are going nicely so far with the scholar I'm doing work for. I was able to make a suggestion for his paper (for which I'm currently doing research, finding sources) which he really liked! Its little victories like this which really excite me and make doing this for free worthwhile.

Okay, time for me to close now so I can get ready to head home. Ta-ta!

6.27.2008

Alternating right now between work stuff, personal errands, and working on stuff for the extra project I'm helping the China scholar with. I've already been more productive today then most of the rest of this week combined. I've researched, I've mailed, I've printed and proofread, I've balanced checkbooks and already thrown my calendar to July. I love these days of productivity. In a minute I'll head out to the AAA to take care of my registration.

A blissful weekend of nothing planned stretches ahead of us. I'll walk and work on my project for previously mentioned scholar... but otherwise, nothing is set up, so anything goes. Fabu!

6.26.2008

So first the Travis update... all great news from the doctor!Travis got his 9 (yes, nine!) staples out yesterday and his incision site looks great. The doc said he doesn't have to use the gauze anymore, he can just wrap the ankle in an Ace bandage or wear a sock. Trav is going the bandage route because of the warm weather. He definitely still has to wear the boot for a few more weeks, but he is allowed to slowly start putting some weight on his foot now while walking with the crutches and while standing. As he feels comfortable he can slowly up how much weight he's putting on it and once he can put full weight on it he can work his way down to one crutch, then off them completely. He's also allowed to remove the boot to move his ankle a little (up and down motions with the toes only... no side to side or circular motions yet).

And the best news... once he has built up the strength and can put some weight on that foot he will be allowed to remove the boot to drive! So definitely not next week, but maybe by the week after he might be able to start with some short trips. After that, he has another doctors appointment in a few weeks and if all is still going well they will give him a less formidable boot to wear. We're really excited by how well he's healing up. Don't worry, definitely still being very careful. Trav definitely doesn't want any setbacks, so he is taking things very slowly. He's still keeping his foot elevated when he's relaxing at night, and we're still icing it. But all in all, great news from the doctor!

Very happy in our household right now. We were both in good moods last night since Trav got such good news at the doc's and my event went well. We also headed back home last night which was nice (although I've already remembered two things I forgot... opps). I'm also excited and so so very nervous right now because I just got a great opportunity to help out a scholar of ours (associated with my institute) whose specialty is China. I'm just a bit scared that I'm not up to what he is wanting from me. But I'm not letting fear stop me from trying because this would be an amazing feather in my cap!! Plus a fun, exciting chance to get some experience in the area that most interests me. Cross your fingers for me and wish me luck! This could be a really great step for me.

6.25.2008

It's seems to be a clusterf*ck kind of work day. I'm sitting here in my office, quietly freaking out. We have an event today, and I know it will be fine, but we haven't had one in a month and this is the first one with the new soundsystem... and my stomach is just all knotted up, wanting it to be over already! Not too long now, not too long.It's funny, I've done this a thousand times... but I'm still nervous about it going well.

Work aside, I'm hoping it will turn out to be a good day. Trav's doctors appointment is today... so my fingers are crossed for good news.

Sorry I'm quiet and boring lately... I'm feeling a bit distracted and overwhelmed. Well, not so much overwhelmed, that's too strong, but just... I don't know, whelmed? Lol. We're heading back home tonight, so I think that will help. The break was great, but it will be really nice to be back in our own bed, back on my normal train, driving myself, etc.

Well, back to it.

*Updated at 11:30: Well, its not over... but its running and so far so good. ::stops to knock on wood:: Everything seems to be going smoothly and the knot in my stomach is slowly coming undone.Also, I just looked at the calendar and realized that it is, holy hell, less then a week until July! Where is the time going? Honestly, everything feels so much better knowing that I have a three-day weekend just around the corner.

6.23.2008

So its officially and really Summer now! I'm actually a bit excited about that as Spring maybe wasn't so kind to Trav. So Summer it is, and hopefully with it a nice change of pace and, come Wednesday (his doc appointment), some good news.

He's feeling pretty well at the moment... still taking it easy, but doing much better with getting around on the crutches. His foot is looking much better now too. This is how it looked on Wednesday night: Gross, right? It was all purple and there is a big lump of swelling right above where the bandages stopped (where the yellow bruising is).

It's looking much better now... more normal colored and the swelling is slowly, but surely, going down. Trav is being really good about elevating and icing the hell out of his leg because he wants it to look as good as possible come his appointment.

Last week finished up nicely... there was some card playing:

And lots of relaxing.We headed home on Friday... and spent the weekend in our own bed, which was great. We didn't do much besides that. Some dishes and laundry, of course. I cooked steaks with some sauted onions on top which were absolutely delish, but I completely forgot pictures. I also walked 7 miles one day and 5 the next.

Yesterday we got brunch with Trav's mom and a family friend that was visiting. And headed back to Willy's for dinner, and the night. We're there tonight, tomorrow night, and will head home on Wednesday night. Thursday Trav's mom heads home to Arizona, and Trav's coworker starts picking him up. Hopefully that will go smoothly.

In some attention-whore type news, my tattoo is healed up nicely! Yay! It looks so great without the red eye and the blood spots!

Love it!

Well, here we are in the last full week of June. Just under 3 weeks until we see the Dalai Lama talk at Lehigh, 5 weeks until my brother leaves for a month in Europe, just under 8 weeks until my birthday, and just over 8 weeks until we leave for the Cape! After that its just 7 more weeks until our anniversary and the 3-day walk!! Lots to look forward to... but I think that's always how the summer is.

Well, in the meantime its back to work for me... awaiting the thuderstorms that are supposed to come. *fingers crossed* Happy Monday, y'all.

6.19.2008

I'm wearing a new outfit today, curtesy of my Mother-in-law... a cute green buttondown shirt, and green and white striped capris. Not something I would have necessarily chosen for myself, but its cute and comfortable... plus she's such a doll to have picked it out for me (and know my sizes!), so it made me happy to make her happy by wearing it today.

I'm also wearing 18 rubberbands on my wrist... which is not a fashion statement, but the easiest way for me to make sure that I walk what I'm supposed to walk tonight since I'm doing it on Villanova's track and loop after loop after loop is a bit mind-numbing! Its easy to lose count of where you are and what you have left. My solution... a rubber band for each lap I have to do... which I'll switch from one wrist to the next.

This has been alternately a very expensive week, and a week of free stuff. We've eaten out a few times, but I got free lunch two days and free breakfast one day also. We are paying a few hundred dollars for Trav's surgury (etc) and I spent $110 on three-freakin prescriptions, but we also both got clothes from my MIL and my "work mommy" gave me a pair of cute shoes (these, they are cuter on). We've been really laid back about it all though because what are you going to do? This is why we are so careful with our money normally, so that we have the breathing room when something like this comes up. Still, overall, this week is going really nicely.

Trav was happy last night because he finally got to take off the boot to change the bandage on his ankle... and therefore, he finally got to take a real shower. I played nursemaid, undressing his ankle, helping him adjust the shower and redressing his ankle when he was done. His foot was this interesting purplish color from bruising (I took a picture, not that you want to see it, but forgot my camera today anyway)... besides the color it looks pretty good. Less then a week until he sees the doctor for a follow up... hopefully for good news.

Tonight more walking for me, more relaxing for Trav, and that's about it! Tomorrow we head home for a few nights in our own bed, which is fabu no matter how great the place you're staying is. Summer officially begins on Saturday... and (every way but weather-wise) I'm ready for spring to be over!

6.17.2008

I sat around last night watching tv and reading, then talking to my best girl Babs on the phone for a while. It was so nice just relaxing and not worrying about what else I had to get done. Willy has a dishwasher to do the dishes, we aren't worrying about laundry this week, and Trav's mom did the cooking last night... so my night was breezy. Sometimes you don't realize how full your days have become until they are blissfully powered down. It's almost like being on vacation, but still going to work.

Tonight will be just a bit busier... we'll run to our place to move Travis's car from one side of the street to the other (because of street cleaning), grab our mail, and pick up an item or two that we forgot. I might also quickly wash the last of those damn dishes. After that, back to Willy's, where I'll get a walk in... then relax for the rest of the evening. A little busier, but still... oh so nice.

Trav is doing well. He's thrilled that tomorrow is five days, so he will finally get to take the boot off for a moment, and get to take an actual shower. A quick, seated shower... but a shower nonetheless! We're all healing up slowly, but surely. ::deep sigh of contentment::

6.16.2008

This is one of those weekends that seemed very long and very short all at the same time. I'm sorry I never came back, but I feel like just finding time to breathe was a challenge! I was so tired by Sunday, but didn't really feel that I could chill out much because there were dishes to do and ice packs to fetch and laundry to wash. I'm actually very relieved that we are staying at Willy's this week (did I mention that? well, we are)... it will be great to spend time with his mom and Willy... plus just not having to do everything myself will be really really nice. Not that I blame Trav, he's is awesome and so appreciative and is already doing 20x better then Friday.

Speaking of Friday, Trav's surgury went really well. I got up around 7 on Friday and got showered and dressed. Trav couldn't eat anything, and didn't sleep well, so he was already ready to go. We headed over to the surgury center around 9:30, and they called us back a little after 11. He got antibotics, an IV, happy juice (in the IV), and once back in the OR they gave him a spinal. The whole surgury took about 1.5 hours... he ended up with four screws instead of two, and I don't remember how many staples. While he was in two of his coworkers came down and took me out to lunch (the center was just down the road from his work). Once the spinal wore off I was able to head back to see him. He handled it all like a champ (especially since this was both his first broken bone and his first surgury)! Now he's in the boot for five days and not allowed to remove it at all. After the five days he can take it off to change the bandages on his ankle, but then the boot goes right back on. He also has to use crutches at least until he goes in for his follow up on the 25th... no weight on the foot at all. We even got him a shower stool so that he can sit in the shower.

I'm really proud of him... he seems to be recovering nicely. He's not in much pain (and he has good pain meds for when it does get bad), but I know he's frustrated with using the crutches and not being able to get around like normal. Like I said though, he's already doing 20x better then Friday, and he's adapting nicely.

Once I got him home on Friday and we got some food, the running around started. I settled him on the couch, surrounded by all he needed for a few hours then ran out to take care of some errands. I picked up his bike (ironic - his birthday present finally comes in, and he gets to stare at it for a few months!), picked up a new sports bra for myself, stopped by the pet store for stuff for Henry, and went grocery shopping. All stuff that I had planned on doing during the week, but which got pushed aside. When I got home there was laundry to do and dishes to wash (the dishes had REALLY piled up during the week).

Saturday the running around continued. I made it so Trav didn't need to move from the couch: a cooler with icepacks and frozen drinks, his meds, a plate with cold pizza (his favorite way to eat it), a dvd in the dvd player, a video in the VCR, his book, and the phones (house/cell). I left early to head up for a hair appointment, then to my parents to wish my papita an early happy father's day (Happy Father's Day Papita!!! Love you!!), then off to Bethlehem for the last sitting on my phoenix tattoo. It's finally finished... and I LOVE it!

It's a little bloody in these pictures (like the eye isn't actually red, its white!), but I'll post another in a week or two when its all healed up (and when I think to take another picture!).

When I got back, I did more dishes and more laundry... and we watched some movies. Then I cooked some dinner.... yummy pesto chicken pasta. Let me tell you, when making this dish its best to figure out beforehand that you have a few breasts to cook, so that you don't end up having to de-skin and de-bone a half-dozen thighs!! Not fun, super labor intensive, and majorly messy.

Thankfully, it turned out very yummy. And if you don't count the dealing with thighs part, its very easy. You simply cube a few chicken breasts and brown them with some salt, pepper, basil, and garlic... mix in a batch of my simple pesto sauce... and add a half a box of cooked noodles. Stir and enjoy.

Sunday I met Ro for a walk, then headed home to shower, do more dishes and another load of laundry, then pack for the week before heading to Willy's. We also stopped on the way to pick up Trav's shower stool. We did have a much more low-key evening after that... heading out for a quiet sushi dinner, then relaxing and reading until bed (well, relaxing as much as possible with Willy's sisters over, playing cards and yelling at each other!).

This past week/weekend has really made me appreciate how much of a partner Travis is, and how much he does around the house (it also makes me desperate for a dishwasher, but that's another story). Simple things like taking out the trash and keeping track of when the recycling people come (yup, we've finally gotten back to recycling! yay!)... he's a pro at remembering that stuff. I, on the otherhand, end up feeling like a chicken with its head cut off! Running in all directions, not getting things done, forgetting details. The boy really keeps me on track.

In anycase, here it is Monday morning and we're both back at work. Because of train timing, and the fact that Barb (Trav's mom) is dropping me off at the station before dropping Trav off at work, the mornings are actually very relaxing. I get up around the same time as always, but get the train a little later, so that gives me time to eat something first and even read a little. Its actually rather nice.

6.11.2008

My appologies beforehand for another picture-laden post... just as I can't. stop. posting. lately, I also can't. stop. taking. pictures. Forgive me, and hopefully you enjoy them as much as I do.

So! Today has been crazy. Spent all morning running around testing out the new sound system in our library at work. Had to be done, but I was sort of hoping to use the time to work on stuff I want to get done this week, with one less day to do it in. C'est la vie... it will all get done.

Last nights weather was a jip again, just an hour or so of distant lightning... but at least it cooled down. This was the temp in our livingroom last night at 7:22:

(91!! Inside! Downstairs!!) Ugh!

As for the case of the ever expanding bruise... it grew again. Here's the progression.

Saturday: Sunday: Monday:In talking about all that's happening, Trav did point out that his surgury falls on Friday the 13th... which some people wouldn't like, but for us it has always been a very lucky day! We met on a Friday the 13th, and were married on one also. Hopefully the luck will continue and everything will go smoothly. In anycase, I'm looking forward to just getting in over with, and I'm sure he is too.

Another reason its a good thing it cooled down? Trav's new accessory:

Stylish, right? It will be his constant companion for the next 3-6 weeks (plus two days).

To get that foot out of your mind, how about this one... I did enjoy my lovely pedicure the other day. This color is fabu:

Don't like feet? Well, I did want to share one picture I took last night, while fooling around outside:

This is one of my beautiful flowers in the front flowerbed (not dead! still so exciting for me). Is that a pistil in your center or are you just happy to see me?

Well, I guess that's about all. Tonight I get to walk the 3-miles I didn't walk last night (just too hot, and too much other stuff to deal with)... and wash the rest of the dishes, and maybe do some laundry. Sounds like a riot, no? I'd look forward to the weekend, but we have to get through Friday first. Send good vibes.

6.10.2008

Last night it was 90* in our living room... and I would guess, a good 5-10* hotter upstairs. Good stuff, right? But I'm not the only one complaining about the heat!Still, today I have much bigger things to talk about.

The big news today... you know that ankle injury of Trav's, the one we were hoping was nothing? Well, apparently that nothing is actually a broken fibula. Awesome. His first broken bone.

Now do you want the good news or the bad news? Lets start with the good... he doesn't have to wear a cast for 6-8 weeks. The bad? Instead he gets to go in for surgury this Friday where he will get a plate and two screws in his leg, and then wear a boot for 3-6 weeks. Apparently it is a bad break.

Especially fun... during this time he will be unable to drive. Luckily his mom is coming into town this weekend and staying for a week... so we will probably be staying at Willy's house for that week, and he will have his mom drive him to/from work. He also talked to a coworker who lives near us and after his mom leaves, he will be getting rides to and from work with her.

I'm so bummed for my boy. I know that he's been in pain... and now not only is he in store for more pain, but he has the frustration of being unable to drive himself for up to two months! Hopefully his recovery will end up being quick and easy. Wish him luck!

6.09.2008

Yes, the time has officially come for me to start complaining about the heat!

Oh Baby, its hot! So hot. Today the high is 99* in the city and with the horrendous amounts of humidity it is going to feel over a 100 for sure. Ugh... so not my kind of weather. I'm going to melt away by the time the heat is supposed to break on Wednesday. I've taken to wearing my hair up on my head like Pebbles (at home and for bed, not all the time)... because hair on the neck is not pleasant right now. Even with the window unit in our bedroom (which Trav installed on Sunday while I was out) it is stuffy and hot in our bedroom, and so hard to sleep.

.

Excuse the fact that it looks like I had just woken up... I had!I'm all about the sundresses right now. Light fabrics. And ponytails. Not to mention moving from one air conditioned area to the next as quickly as possible!

On a nicer note, we had a great weekend!Friday night was lazy like. But Ro and I met up for a walk at 10:30 on Saturday (already hot as hell!) then I headed home to shower and change, grabbed my boy, some burgers, and some fixings... and off we went to Ro & Pat's lovely Central-Air-outfitted house. We grilled and watched movies/played Wii... and just did our damnedest to stay cool.

Sunday I was up early, couldn't sleep for some reason. It was just Boo the kittie and I... We watched Little Women until everyone else woke up... then Ro & I headed off for another sweaty, sticky walk. We had a nice brunch when we got back, then Trav and I headed home. I got my boy all settled in with a movie, then headed to JCPenny's to use a coupon (got some more workout shorts) and then to the movies to meet Ro for Sex and the City.

*SPOILER ALERT* (Skip down to the picture if you don't want to see any spoilers!)I really loved this movie. It made me cry more then once, and cracked me up so many times. It was sweet and funny and painful and just great. Ro's one complaint was that it seemed a little predictable at times, and I can understand why she might say that... people ended up where you wanted them too. But there were definitely things that surprised me, and I like that the ending seemed right.

Parts I loved:- Carrie and the girls heading to Mexico on Carrie's now not-honeymoon. Highlights... Charlotte's accident!! Killed me, so funny.- Louise. Just a great character, and someone to keep the energy up when Carrie was (understandably) unable to.- Big's love letters. So sweet. What he did sucked... but I loved the lengths he was willing to go to prove himself.

Things that surprised me:- Steve's affair... did not see that one coming!- Samantha's break up with Smith. I really like them together... but after the initial shock I did seem very fitting. Monogomy is just not Samantha's thing, never was.

Things that made me cry:- Samantha feeding Carrie in Mexico. Just such a sweet, touching, genuine moment. Loved it.- Miranda and Steve meeting on the bridge.

All in all I would definitely recommend this movie for any fan of the series. Even if you only occationally watched the show, I think you could still really enjoy this.

*End Spoilers*

So anyway. More weekend stuff. I was happy to see when I got home on Sunday that I did not, in fact, kill the flowers I transplanted! Can't see what I mean? Well, I'll get a little closer:

Look at that. :-) Those are the two I transplanted, and we have the very first bloom of the season! Yay!!!!!!

On another note, Trav hurt himself again. He's already having a rough summer (hopefully this is not a trend!)! Thursday he had a "field day" at work, where they get everyone out of the office to play wiffle ball and frizbee and the like. I think its to keep everyone from getting too antsy with the nice weather. Well, Trav went to catch a ball... stepped wrong on the uneven ground and sprained his ankle! He's been in pain, not really able to put much weight on it and its been swollen. But we weren't too worried until the bruising started:

That was on Saturday, and it was even worse Sunday morning: Plus he's still unable to put any real weight on it four days later... so he is at the doctors as I type. Hopefully its not too serious.

Well, now I'm at work on the hottest day yet and wasn't planning on leaving, but my sweet as pie coworker decided to give me a pedicure (not herself, but at a place on our block)! So I'm about to eat some lunch, then I'll head out for that. Yipee!

6.05.2008

So yesterday was long. And the weather? A complete jip! Plus the blogs I read, half of the authors are asleep on the job. Update people! I want to read you! But here I am, ready to ramble some more because for unknown reason I. just. want. to. write. Its a compulsion.

But today I do have a reason to be here, an important reason to write...I love this girl:

Happy 25th Birthday Babwa!!!!!!!!

Seriously, she's the best. As far as friends go, you couldn't ask for a nicer, sweeter, funnier, more trustworthy one. She is the cats meow, and I adore her. Plus, if you notice above, she is the perfect red accessory to complete my look.

And I'm not the only one who loves her:

Babs,I wish I could be there in Indy right now to celebrate your big day. But in lieu of my physical presence, I am sending you a million great wishes that this will be your best year yet. Love you!

6.04.2008

Today is one of those days where venturing out doesn't seem fair or necessary. But here I am at work, wishing I were at home curled up on the couch watching Harry Potter movies. I don't know why I'm so HP obssessed lately, but it seems like a good day for HP watching on my couch, in my pjs. It would at least be a little better to be at work if we got a big ol' thunderstorm like they were calling for (I have a nice big window to watch the storm through), but so far its just rainy and gross. What a jip.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part IRelease Date: 19 November 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part IIRelease Date: May 2011

Not too much longer to wait for the next movie... but then a two-year wait after that!! Yipes, no fun. In anycase, I got myself a widget (on the left) to countdown until November. Does that make me a dork? :-) Oh, and does it make me an even bigger dork that while I was looking for widgets, I found this and really really really want it?

Maybe I will treat myself and watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire over lunch (here, love this site), while I eat some lovely fruit that my husband bought me last night (berries and an asian pear, yumm-o!). And maybe I'll make some soup for lunch since it is just that kind of dreary out!Stay dry!

6.03.2008

Just popping in to say that I walked yesterday, a mile to the far train station at the end of the day... my first real walk for a week, and it went well. I took extra time and wasn't sore by the end. So now I'll get back on schedule with my walking... tonight, 3-miles. But I'll definitely be taking it slowly and carefully.

In anycase, otherwise things are uneventful here. I saw a friend yesterday that I met through work. It was nice because we don't see each other often, and it was a lovely break in my day. Trav & I BBQed for dinner... the hardest part was when Trav was seperating the frozen burgers which took longer then normal since he was so nervous to do it! But all is fine and his fingers are in no more pieces then before. I slept like crap again last night, although the worst was from 10 (when I went to bed) to almost 1 (when Trav came to bed)... I guess I just sleep better with him there. Or his nerves were contagious (he was watching the hockey game which went into triple overtime before the Penguins, finally and thankfully, won!).

Anyway, now I'm here, but not feeling up to much today... so how about two memes that I've been working on and saving for a rainy day?

Meme #1: This meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, "Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure." It's a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.3. If applicable, link to the person that tagged you in your post.4 .Tag five more blogs with links.5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

This took me a lot of time. It takes some real thinking to come up with a phrase that sums up the crux of your life, and especially when you add it the exact word count! But, here is what I came up with:

~ Smiling forward. Everyday a new beginning. ~

Maybe its not the most thoughtful thing ever blogged, but I think it really works for me.And here are a few of my discarded ones:

And, as an added warning, the protective mom of Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, Shiloh, 2, and the still-baking, Brad Pitt-spawned double buns in her oven, points out that she "bought original, real guns of the type we used in 'Tomb Raider' for security."

"Brad and I are not against having a gun in the house, and we do have one," acknowledges Jolie, who is out stumping for the soon-to-be-released thriller, "Wanted," in which she plays a weapons-wielding assassin. "And yes, I'd be able to use it if I had to. I could handle myself. I think there are certain combat skills that would come out. I tend to want to throw an elbow."

Says the goodwill-promoting earth mother, "There's a side to me that people know is humanitarian, and there's a side to me that's a mommy. But there's also the side that likes to get down and dirty and run and jump around and fire guns."

And while it'll probably be several years before any of her tots see her popping a cap or 50 in "Wanted," she's not going to shield them from violence on the big screen.

"It's just not a reality in this day and age to say, 'I'm never going to let my kids watch a movie that has a gun in it,'" explains Angelina. "It's important to know that this exists. But I'm very clear with my children about who's a good guy and who's bad."

Angelina graces the cover of the July issue of Vanity Fair.

Meanwhile, the actress and her heaving, ah-ooga!-triggering cleavage strike a scarlet-lipped, come-hither "Barbarella"-meets-Brigitte Bardot pose for the July issue of Vanity Fair.

In the interview, which was conducted before she confirmed she was carrying twins (by the by, their arrival is so eagerly anticipated that bidding on the first pics has reached an unprecedented $15 million, reports TMZ.com), she admits she didn't intend to fall for Pitt -- or any other actor.

"After my last divorce [from Billy Bob Thornton], I said I was absolutely going to marry somebody in another field, an aid worker or something," maintains Angelina. "Then I met Brad, everything I wasn't looking for, but the best man, the best father I could possibly wish for, you know?"

Besides, she adds, "I don't see him as an actor. I see him very much as a dad, as somebody who loves travel and architecture more than being in movies."

During the extensive sit-down, Jolie talks more about Pitt and life in their poopie-pants-filled household. Here are some highlights:

On bonding with Pitt over philanthropy: "This was actually one of the things that brought us together. Though he wasn't as publicly active, I found him to be very aware of the world, very curious, very compassionate. In his private way, he had been doing a lot. When we met, we realized our common goals were that we both wanted to be involved in the world and see what we could do. We have similar interests but different approaches. He's more involved in rebuilding New Orleans, environmental issues, green sustainability. I am more refugees. But when it comes to common goals -- orphans, orphans' rights, children -- we support each other. It brings us together and makes our relationship work."

On being knocked up: "I love it. It makes me feel like a woman. It makes me feel that all the things about my body are suddenly there for a reason. It makes you feel round and supple, and to have a little life inside you is amazing. Also, I'm fortunate. I think some women have a different experience depending on their partner. I think that affects it. I happen to be with somebody who finds pregnancy very sexy. So that makes me feel very sexy."

On their unwedded bliss: "People have made a lot out of it that we're not but we both have been married before, and it's very easy to get married, but it's not easy to build a family and be parents together. And maybe we've done it backwards, but we certainly feel married."

On the tabloids: "People always slow down for a train wreck. It's like junk food. If you don't feel good about yourself, you want to read crap about other people, like gossip in high school. You don't understand why it's there, but somehow it makes a lot of people feel better."

On their diverse nannies: "We don't ever have anybody spend the night. We may have to adjust that when the next one comes. But we do have ladies that work with us, and they're also from different cultures and backgrounds. One lady's a Vietnamese teacher -- wonderful. One is of Congolese descent from Belgium. Another is from the States and is really creative and does art programs."

On her blended family: "When I was growing up I wanted to adopt, because I was aware there were kids that didn't have parents. It's not a humanitarian thing, because I don't see it as a sacrifice. It's a gift. We're all lucky to have each other. I look at Shiloh -- because, obviously, physically, she is the one that looks like Brad and I when we were little -- and say, 'If these were our brothers and sisters, how much would we have known by the time we were 6 that it took into our 30s and 40s to figure out?' I suppose I'm giving them the childhood I always wished I had."

On how they chose the name Shiloh: "It's a biblical name but we didn't name her for that. It was a name my parents almost named their first child -- there was a miscarriage: Shiloh Baptist. Because my father had been shooting in Georgia and that was the most Southern name [my parents] could come up with. It's a name I always liked. I used to go under it in hotels: Shiloh Baptist. I'd gone under it when [Brad] called hotel rooms where I was staying."

On spirituality in the household: "Brad got me this great thing for Christmas. It's a bookshelf that has a book on every religion. That's how we plan to raise our kids. Teach them about all religions. They can pick one or be a student of all of them. We'll celebrate Kwanzaa for our girl. We'll celebrate moon and water festivals for our boys. We'll take them to temples in certain countries. Also to church."

On trying to maintain order: "You end up hearing yourself saying all those clichéd parent things: 'I don't care who started it, but I'm here to finish it.'" She also says she takes cues from "how my mom raised me, which is to figure out who I was and try to enhance my individual personality and not get in the way of it. But I can really discipline the kids when I need to."

On their child-rearing philosophy: "Artists raise their kids differently. We communicate to the point where we probably annoy our children. We have art around the house, we have books, we go to plays, we talk. Our focus is art and painting and dress-up and singing. It's what we love. So I think you can see how artists in some way raise other artists."

6.02.2008

I try to get up when I wake up on the weekends, and not roll over for more slumber (unless its before 8... then I give myself some more time). I'm having enough trouble at night, I don't want to add to it by oversleeping in the morning. Which is something I used to be a pro at... these "early" mornings are new to me! Normally I'd use the time and go walking, but as my week of ankle rest continues, I went online instead and did it to myself again. I don't know that I've mentioned this blog before... I don't read it all the time because, frankly, its too sad and distressing. Plus, to be 100% honest, his writing style bugs me. The more I read it, the more used to it I get, and the story just trumps all... but, not a fan of the prose-like style. But, that is beside the point. I went back and read a bunch this weekend, to use some of that free time. Theseentries will fill you in on the story and why its so sad. This one has a beautiful photo montage of father and daughter, that is visually beautiful, as well as just touching. Here is a really nice article about it.

Back on Monday, am:Blogger has been funky this morning. Anyone else having problems? I'm going to do myself a favor and copy this entry before trying to publish it... I hate losing entries to blogger problems.

Anyway, back to the weekend. In some not so tear worthy news... we had a wedding to attend this weekend (yes, another... it is the season for them)! It was great not just for the wedding part of it, but because my Babs was one of the bridesmaids.

The cake part was great:

Of course there are a million of Babs and I...

Weddings are a hoot... really fun.

Really, really fun... ;-)

Us with Babs' parents (my second set of parents).

(Sayward, another bridesmaid, and I went to high school together.)

(My Babs is so pretty...)

Scott & Yiv are such a sweet couple.

So it was a bit of an ordeal getting to the wedding, we ended up being late (like 30 minutes late!) because the directions that looked so simple on the computer, turned out to be a bit tricker then we thought. We got turned around because of a poorly marked road and ended up going about 15 minutes in the wrong direction, which meant 15 minutes back, meaning a whopping 30 minutes late. Opps! We missed the whole first half of the ceremony, but luckily they had a sermon in the beginning, so we didn't miss the vows, rings, kiss, etc. Still, ugh.But the ceremony we saw was lovely! And they just had a real low-key buffet meal afterwards which was great too. I think they are planning a more formal reception for after their return (honeymooning in NH, at the same ski resort that my cousin got married in! How fun!)... but the low-key version after the wedding was really nice. Trav and I had a good time. I'm always thrilled when I get to see my Babs, and he loves her too.

They lucked out with weather too. While the predicted thunderstorms did show up in the morning, but the time their wedding ceremony was over they had lovely beautiful skies. It was warm too (albeit a bit muggy). At least they didn't have this problem:

That (its a bit hard to tell) is the beginnings of a tornado! The picture is by the Pioneer Woman, and she has a whole bunch of pictures on her blog. There were actually tornado warnings in effect in some parts of PA and NJ... including up by my parents.

After the wedding, we headed home to change... then off to Ro & Pat's to entertain Pat since Ro is off on a last-minute business trip until Wednesday. We didn't want the poor guy to be alone the whole time. So we spent the night there, relaxing, talking, and playing video games.

Sunday was lazy, lazy... we headed home and Trav made up a batch of Yeasty Cheese. He's getting pretty damn good at it, which is nice. It means I don't have to make it all the time now. :-) Then we just relaxed and watched some movies... the first three Harry Potters (I had a "craving"). And marveled at the fact that its June already!!! I knew May would go fast since we had so much going on, but this was faster then even I expected!

In other bits of random news, I was reading this morning and came across another article on the whole Rachel Ray and Dunkin Donuts are terrorists crap. I can't get over how stupid this whole uproar is! Ugh, are we kidding here? Is there nothing else for these people to get up in arms about other then a black & white paisley scarf? So dumb.

Anyway, now its back to work. Although a very low-key work since we don't have any events here until the 25th! And my boss is out today (nice!). Have a great day!!